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Published December 22, 2024 11:42am Updated December 22, 2024 11:42am
Liverpool have been urged to consider signing Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran following his latest impressive performance against Manchester City.
Duran joined Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023 for an initial fee of £14.75 million but has had to wait his turn given the form of Ollie Watkins last season.
The Colombian enjoyed a fruitful start to this campaign as an impact substitute, coming off the bench to score key goals including against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The 21-year-old now appears to have usurped Watkins in the pecking order having started up front in Villa’s last three Premier League games.
And Duran is continuing his excellent goalscoring form, notching up his fourth goal in as many games as Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 at home on Saturday afternoon.
The striker now has 12 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, with Villa no doubt prepared for renewed interest in the talented striker when the January transfer window opens next month.
Duran had interest from Chelsea in the summer and came close to agreeing a deal to join West Ham, but Didi Hamann believes that Arne Slot’s side should also look to sign the Colombian to bolster their attacking options.
Asked if Liverpool could sign Harry Kane, the former Reds midfielder, speaking to BoyleSports about Premier League Betting, said: ‘To be honest, he seems happy at Bayern Munich and I don’t think Munich want to sell him either.
‘I don’t think that will happen and Liverpool have never been the biggest spenders, so it’s unlikely.
Hamman instead said Liverpool should target Duran, adding: ‘Jhon Duran is a brilliant player and the way he plays, it always helps having a player with a physical presence up front.
‘He created space up front and made a huge impact for Villa [against City] – I certainly think Liverpool need to keep an eye on him.’
Duran could be seen as a ready-made replacement for Liverpool’s club-record signing and fellow South America Darwin Nunez.
Nunez has just four goals so far this season, with former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant urging the club to cut their losses on the Uruguayan international.
‘He cost so much money and is up there with one of Liverpool’s highest-paid players,’ Pennant told Casino Apps.
‘He’s just not giving Liverpool what they paid for – yes, he works his socks off and the fans love him, bringing something different to the team, but ultimately you want goals.
‘Especially for that price tag, you expect returns to justify that fee, I think after this season – which is his third – we’re not going to see any improvement in the fourth or fifth.
‘This is it now, this is the final product of Darwin Nunez. No disrespect to him, but he’s not on the level as a player that Liverpool are as a team.’
Villa, meanwhile, appear in no hurry to part with Duran and have reportedly slapped a £75million price tag on the young attacker, who extended his contract until 2030 back in October.
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